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To Americans. That some desperate wretches should be willing to steal and enslave men by violence and murder for gain, is rather lamentable than strange. But that many civilized, nay, christianized people should approve, and be concerned in the savage practice, is surprising; and still persist, though it has been so often proved contrary to the light of nature, to every principle of Justice and Humanity, and even good policy, by a succession of eminent men, and several late publications.

— Thomas Paine Disputed African Slavery in America (1775)

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Slavery

More quotes by Thomas Paine

It is the duty of every man, so far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error.

The universe is composed of matter, and, as a system, is sustained by motion.

Discourse to the Theophilanthropists (1798)

To God, and not to man, are all men to account for their belief.

Discourse to the Theophilanthropists (1798)

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.

Accustom a people to believe that priests or any other class of men can forgive sins, and you will have sins in abundance.

Worship and Church Bells (1797)

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We spend our lives fighting to get people very slightly more stupid than ourselves to accept truths that the great men have always known.

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The Autocrat of all the Russias will resign his crown, and proclaim his subjects free republicans sooner than will our American masters voluntarily give up their slaves.

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Thomas Paine (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.